Half to john r



(No Model.)

T. J. PARK-INSON.

BED.

Patented Feb. 24

II H'V E5103) THE ncmms PETERS cm, mnroinno, msmmmn, n. :4

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

\ THOMAS J. PARKINSON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN R. BAUM, OF SAME PLACE.

l BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,257, dated February 24, 1891. Application filed September 15, 1890. Serial No. 364,934. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, THOMAS J. PARKINSON, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Beds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved bed, the section being on the line II of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bed. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line III III of Fig.1. Fig. 4 -is asimilarview show ing the bed widened; and Fig. 5 is a detail View partly in section.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each. p

In the drawings, 2 represents the bedstead, which is of the usual construction, one of the advantages of my improved bed being its easy application to bedsteads of proper size of any of the well-known forms without the necessity for special adaptation or modification thereof.

3 represents the rectangular frame forming part of the bed proper. In this frame are the two mattress-supporting sections 4 5, which are pivotally secured at their meeting ends to the frame 3 by means of transverse bars 6, which extend from side to side of the frame. Each bed-section 4 5 may be raised on the axes of the bars 6 into an inclined position suitable to the requirements of the invalid, and for the purpose of upholding the sections in the positions in which they are set I employ curved levers 9, of which there are preferably two for each bed-section, connected by means of cross-braces 10 and fixed to cross-shafts 11, which are journaled in the side rails of the frame 3. The upper faces of the levers 9 are provided with teeth to conform to teeth formed on the under side of the side rails of the bedsections 4 and 5, and to the shafts are preferably aflixed weighted arms or levers 12,which tend to turn the shafts and to elevate the levers 9.

The operation of adjusting my improved bed is as follows: The section to be inclined, whether it be the section at the head or foot of the bed, is raised by means of a strap or otherwise, and the weights on the levers 9 per tainin g to that bed-section automatically raise said levers as the bed-section is raised. The contact and engagement of the teeth on the levers with the teeth on the bed-section hold the latter in whatever position it may be placed. 'Any suitable means may be employed to raise the bed-section; but I prefer to use the strap, since by placing it at or near the 50 end of the bed-section I obtain a very powerful leverage, which enables the bed-section to be lifted with case. ,To lower the bed-section again into a horizontal position, I raise it slightly so as to disengage'its teeth from the teeth of the levers 9, and then depress the levers, preferably by raising with the foot one of the weighted arms 12. In this manner the bed-section may be lowered with ease and very gradually into the desired position.

In order that the frame 3 and its auxiliary parts may be capable of adjustment to suit beds of various sizes, I construct them as follows: Each side rail of the frame 3 is made of two parts aand b, connectedby a rod 14, fixed to one part and entering a longitudinal socket in the other, so that the parts may be elongated or drawn together lengthwise to vary the length of the frame. When properly adj usted, the parts are held by means of set-bolts 8o 15. To adjust the bed-frame laterally, so that it may suit bed-frames of various widths, I make each of the end rails 12' of the frame 3 of two parallel parts joined by a sliding connection, such as a dovetail joint, so that they may be elongated, as desired. The bars 11, on which the levers 9 are mounted, are also capable of elongation, each being made of telescopically-connected pipe-sections provided with a lock-bolt c. The pivotal bars6 of the 0 sections 4 and 5, the bars 6' 6, which connect and brace the side rails of these sections, and the bars 10, connecting the lovers 9, are each made in like manner of telescopically-connected sections, and are capable of elongation 9 5 to afford lateral adjustment of the bed-frame and its sections.

I claim 1. The combination of a bed-frame adapted to be set in and removed from a bed and piv- 10o oted bed-sectionsset in the frame, said bedframe having side rails formed of parts relatively movable longitudinally to vary the [O pivoted sections having also transverse connecting-bars formed of parts relatively movable longitudinally for a like purpose, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of September, A. D. 1800.

T HOMZAS J. PARKINSON.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL L. ALLEN, J AMES BRYAR. 

